Apparatus for removing collapsible tubes from the extruding plungers of extruding machines



Marcl 9, 1954 F. REMINGTON ET AL, APPARATUS FOR REMOVING COLLAPSIBLE TUBES FROM ING PLUNGERS OF' EXTRUDING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet l THE EXTRUD Filed May lO, 1950 M 5 INVENTUM.-

TTRNEY GTON ETAL i 2,671,558

coLLAFsIBLE TUBES FROM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY F. REMIN OR REMOVING EXTRUDING PLUNGERS OF' EXTRUDING MACHINES March 9, 1954 APPARATUS F THE Filed May 1o, 1950 Patented Mar. 9, 1954 APPARATUS FOR REMOVING COLLAPSIBLE TUBES FROM THE EXTRUDING PLUN GERS 0F EXTRUDING MACHINES Frederic Remington, Elizabeth, and Richard A.

Tartaglia, East Orange, N. J., assignors to Peerless Tube Company, Bloomfield, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 10, 1950, Serial No. 161,214

4 Claims. l

This invention relates in general to the manufacture of collapsible tubes that are commonly used for packaging tooth paste, toilet creams, paints, glue vand other products.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our co-pending application Serial No. 115,378 filed September 13, 1949, and is related to our application Serial No. 80,162 iiled March 8, 1949, and now Patent No. 2,600,921.

In the manufacture of such collapsible tubes, a slug of metal is placed in a die, for example on the bed of a power press, and a plunger, carried by a reciprocating head in the press, is forced into the die under high pressure so as to cause the metal to iiow back along the plunger, thereby to produce a tube having a cylindrical body portion of irregular length, a sloping shoulder and a neck closed by a web at the end. It is necessary to remove or strip the collapsible tube from the plunger, and generally the stroke of the head of the press is of suiiicient length t0 permit the plunger to be withdrawn a distance from the die greater than the length of the collapsible tube so as to permit the tube to be stripped or pushed from the end of the plunger. However, considerable waste of power and time is involved in such long strokes of the head of the press, and in our aforesaid copending applications there are described power presses which include constructions such that the stroke of the press head may be substantially less than the length of the collapsible tube and yet the tube can be easily, quickly and automatically removed from the plunger, whereby collapsible tubes can be rapidly produced with a minimum of power.

More particularly the invention is intended for use in connection with a collapsible tube extruding machine oi that type and includes a frame having a die cavity thereon to receive a slug of metal, a plunger mounted on a vertically reciprocable press head in said frame and reciprocable into and. out of said cavity to extrude said slug in the .plunger and withdraw said tube from the cavity respectively, said plunger being swingable bodily from a rst position out of the die cavity and at one side of the die into a second position in vertical axial alinement with the die cavity and from said second pcsiton into the rst position while the plunger is out of said die cavity; and another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for stripping or removing the collapsible tube from said plunger during movement of the plunger from the second position into the rst position.

. Still another object is to provide such means for stripping or removing the collapsible tube from the plunger which shall include a stripping head slidable longitudinally of the plunger, and novel means mounted on said frame and operated lby said press head for actuating said stripping head.

Other objects, advantages and results of the invention will be brought out by the following description in conjunction with the laccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a schematic front elevational view of a machine for extruding collapsible tubes embodying the invention, showing the extruding plunger in said second or tube extruding position and with portions broken away and shown in section;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view approximately on the plane of the line 2--2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the extruding plunger in its rst or tube stripping position;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View approximately on the plane of the line 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the extruding die with portions broken away to show a slug of metal in the die cavity, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the die and a portion of the extruding plunger, illustrating the tube extruding operation.

For the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention we have shown it in conjunction with `a generally known type of power press portions of which have been omitted because they have no bearing on the invention. More particularly, the press includes a bed A at opposite sides of which are vertical side pieces B in each of which is a vertical slide way C opposed to the slide way of the other side piece for guiding the vertical reciprocation of the head D of the press which is reciprocated by any suitable power driven mechanism (not shown).

On the bed of the press is mounted a die E in which is a cylindrical die cavity I that has an inverted frustro-conical bottom wall 2 at the smaller end of which is a `coaxial recess or opening 3.

Cooperative with the die is a plunger 4 having a frusto-conical end 5 and a coaxial mandrel projection t5, the plunger 4 being of a diameter less than the diameter of the die cavity and the mandrel projection Ei being of a diameter less than the recess 3.

With this construction, when a slug l' of metal of a volume to give a collapsible tube of the desired size and weight is placed in the die cavity,

as shown in Figure 5, and the plunger 4 is forced downwardly into the cavity against the slug l', the metal of the latter is caused to flow, first tending to fill the die ca-vity and then flow backwardly orupwardlyalong the exterior surface of. the plunger to form the tubular body 8 of acollapsible tube F as shown in Figure 6. As the plunger completes its downward stroke, the slop.- ing shoulder 9 and the closed neck l0 of the collapsible tube are formed betweerrthejuxtaposed surfaces of the plunger and die.

The invention is shown in combination with means identical with that shown incur co-pend-v ing application, Serial No. 80,162, filed March'S, 1949, and now Patent No. 2,600,921,1for automatically manipulating the plunger so that the tube can be removed therefromupon an4 upward.

movement of the plunger a distance substantially less than the length of the tube.

block ||..which in turn is pivotally connected vat.

l-.to-the, bottom. side of the.- head` Dgofthe-press. to.swing.in-.an.axis at. one side of andperpenfr dicularv to the` longitudinal axis, of thev plunger,

so Vthatfthe.head..block. may, be, swunginto abut..- ting contact with the bottom surface of the head- D.. so -as to.locatethe plunger. above .and .coaxial withthedie cavity or theblockmay beswungl downwardly away, from thebottom .surface .othe press head so as to move the rplunger laterally.

away from .thezdie E into, an inclined position. as

shownfintFigure. 3: ot the drawingsI toy permit thev collapsible tube toslide. downwardly` off they plunger. Asshown, the.. bottom surface of the presshead is-iat1 and perpendicular to the-direc.- tion of reciprocation of the head, and the upper. surfacaof, the headzbloclc isalsolat, so that when. the1 head block: .is swung-to; bring .its upper surfacerintocontact with the-bottom surfaceof thesfpress headptheffplungent will be lockedor held against tilting during the extrudingg Op era-tion,-

Meansis -also-providedfor. oscillating-the headblock .and plunger fromv one otsaid .positicnsito thexother; andinas` shown, said' means: comprises.v

a bifurcatedfarm.r |3-on-.-the headl block l `which ispivotally, connectedat 'I4-to oneend of a link |5fthe: other; end. of which .isl-pivotally connected at I6 to oneendyoi a crankarm- |-'l which. isy rigidly connected tto a -shaft fjournaled tov swingy about a-.horiZontal axis lini bearing.- lugs 9 fon the press head. A second crank arm 20 is also rigidly connected-:tothe shaft, 8 andextends; therefrom in agdirectionoppositefto that of thefcranlr arnr |75,

and: the-crankarm- 2H hasA a follower rollerv 25|- movable in' af-,camgroove 22formed inA a block- 23-1that issecured toone of theside pieces-B: of

tally.Y oisetivertical portions 22a:v andrZZb between Whieh'is a .curvedportion 22e; said' portions being so related and in such relationtothel movement of;thepresshead, that when thepress headis in ,its upper-normal position as-shown in Figure 3, therollerZ fis in the upper portion ofthe groove 22a-to -hold thedieblock and plunger-in the tube` discharging position, while at the beginning of thedescent. ofthe press head; the roller 2| .moves through thecurved portion 22e of' thegroovezand.

IAs shownthe plunger is rigidly connected at one end to a head n in -Figures 1, 2, 4 and 6. Upon the ascent of the press head, the plunger is rst removed from the die cavity lgandthen is automatically swung into its voiset inclined position with its free end at oneside-oi the die as shown by solid lines in Figurev 3. Thereupon the tube is slid off the plungeras indicated by dot and dash lines in Figurealby. the stripping means embodying the invention;- This: means is shown as comprising astrppinghead G, which is movable longitudinally of the plunger 4 and is mounted at one end of, abracket arm 24 the other end of which is rigidly connected to a tubular slide 25 which is slidably reciprocable. on a.. guide rod 2 E.tha,t .is rigidly mountedonthe-block .inspacedand parallel relationito theplunger 4.', The stripping head is slidable on .the plunger Lto abut.l thev opener upperend of. atubeF so as .topushthe tubeoff the plunger during-downwardmoverncnt of-,the stripping `headon the plunger,

Means for reciprocating the tubular slide..2,5. comprises a fork 2l' which.embracestheslide and.

v has its-arms pivotally. connected thereto as indicatedat 28, said fork havingafshank 29the end. of which opposite thefork isslidably mounted. ina socket 3B formed inan arm on a rockerbar 3| which is journaled at its endsintheside pieces B,of,lthe pressfframe asindicatedat 32, soasto oscillateabout ahorizontal-axis. A pair of spaced arms-33 project .from the rearof the rocker barr at the sideof; its pivots-.32.opposite. the. fork .andn are'pivotallyconnectedtoone end of a,..link3 4, the other endof .which passesthroughaslot. 3,5. in an armV 36:- which projects.. rigidly. from. the. press head D, nuts: and` a collar or'washerv 37| being secured on .the-link.,34above said..arm3 sothat upon upwardmovement of. the press head` thelink will be pulled upwardly. to. swingl the. rocker bar 3| and Imove the, fork2,'| andv slide l2,6` d0wnwardly. Therocker bar is swung.A in theother direction byv tension springs, 38 that areA connected by pinsf39on the rocker bar to lugs. on the bed of the press.

In operation of the stripping mechanism and.- assumingtheplrmger 4v to bein the tube extrudingfpositionshown invFigugre l, the rst portion; of the upwardmovement of: the press head lwith-- draws the plunger and'tubel from thedi'ercavity'; whereupon the rollerv 2| engages'the camasurfaces 22c'and 22a so as to swing the plungerfiiY out-v wardly or forwardly away from the die as shown in Figure 3. Then, continued upward movement of the press head will cause actuation" of the rocker bar 3| Yto force the slide 25 and the stripping head downwardly until the collapsible-tube: has been pushed completely 01T.' the plunger, as shown inFigure 3, the shank,29jof the fork sliding outwardly in thesocket to compensatefor the outward. swinging movement ofv the plunger 2B. Upon the beginning of the descent of. the press head, the rocker bar 3| will befactuated to raise the stripping head G and theroller 2|- will move into engagement withv the camsurfaces: 22h so as to return the plunger into alinernent With the die cavityin readinessfor the nextzexsi truding operation as showny in Figures: 1V and: 2,

- thel shank 29: sliding inwardly. of the soclretv 30 5 as the plunger 26 moves to the extruding position.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the discharged tubes may be handled in any suitable manner; for example, they may be dropped upon an endless conveyor by which they may be transported to a point for the next operation upon the tube such as the trimming of the open end of the tube or the threading of the neck, etc.

AS usual in the manufacture of collapsible tubes, the press head D will be rapidly reciprocated and automatically controlled by mechanism well known in the art, and the slugs l will be fed to the die cavity in timed relation to the reciprocation of the press head by means equally well known. The reciprocating stroke of the plunger is only long enough to produce the required displacement of the metal of the slug and to clear the free end of the plunger With the tube thereon from the top of the die, and therefore collapsible tubes can be produced rapidly with a minimum of power. It will also be observed that the stripping mechanism eiectually compensates for the swinging movement of the extruding plunger and yet is simple and inexpensive in construction and economically actuated by the press head.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the now preferred form of the invention has been illustrated for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention but that many modifications and changes may be made in the details and construction of the machine within the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A machine for extruding tubes, comprising a frame, a die mounted thereon and having a die cavity, a head vertically reciprocable on said frame, an extruding plunger carried by said head, and means for bodily swinging said plunger into and out of axial alinement with said die cavity upon reciprocation of said head, a stripper slidable longitudinally of said plunger to engage the open end of a tube formed on said plunger, and means for sliding said stripper in opposite directions upon reciprocation of said head including a rigid vertical shaft on said head parallel to said plunger, a slide reciprocable on said shaft and connected to said stripper, a rocker bar mounted connection between said rocker bar and said head to oscillate said rocker bar upon reciprocation of said head.

2. A machine for extruding tubes, comprising a frame, a die mounted thereon and having a die cavity, a head vertically reciprocable on said frame, an extruding plunger carried by sai-d head, and means for bodily swinging said plunger into and out of axial alignment with said die cavity during downward and upward movement of said head respectively, a stripper slidable longitudinally of said plunger, and means for sliding said stripper in opposite directions upon reciprocation of said head, including a slide connected to said stripper, means mounting said slide on said head to vertically reciprocate relatively to and with said head, a rocker bar mounted on said frame to oscillate on a iixed horizontal axis, means connecting said rocker bar to said slide including parts, at least one of which is connected to and movable with said slide during swinging of said plunger, at least another part connected to and oscillatable With said rocker bar and means connecting said parts for movement relatively to each other to accommodate said oscillation of said rocker bar and the swinging of said plunger, and means including a connection between said rocker Ibar and said head to oscillate said rocker bar upon reciprocation of said head.

3. A machine for extruding tubes as dened in claim 1 wherein said connection between said rocker bar and said head includes an arm on said rocker bar, an arm on said head and linkage connected at its opposite ends to said arm on the rocker bar and to said arm on said head respectively.

4. A machine for extruding tubes as defined in claim 1 wherein said connection between said rocker bar and said head includes an arm on said rocker bar, an arm rigidly mounted on said head and having a slot therein, and a link pivotally connected to said arm on the rocker bar and passing through said slot in said arm on the head, said link having an adjustable collar there- 3 on above and to be abutted by said arm on the head as the head moves upwardly.

FREDERIC REMINGTON. RICHARD A. TARTAGLIA.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,552,717 McGee Sept. 8, 1925 2,161,752 Temple June 6, 1939 

